At a glance

Your chance to

Try snowshoeing and dogsledding

Enjoy a reindeer ride

See the Northern Lights

At a glance

7 nights at Basecamp Oulanka Our 'wilderness camp' is a lovely complex of wooden buildings providing comfortable and cosy accommodation in a stunning location overlooking a lake and backing on to the Oulanka National Park All accommodation is in family-

Flights from Heathrow to Kuusamo via Helsinki with Finnair

Transport 45 mins by minibus/taxi

Winter activities in a stunning wilderness location

Oulanka is always a popular family destination: with rave reviews about charming accommodation and wonderful leaders, this is definitely a winter trip with a difference. The whole family can enjoy lots of new exciting activities and wholesome home-cooked food rustled up by our small team of expert staff. Discover the beautiful wilderness of Finnish Lapland on snowshoes, cross-country skis, dogsled and snowmobiles. There is also a chance to visit a traditional reindeer farm and have a ride in a Lappish sleigh. Our wilderness base is located at the edge of Oulanka National Park in a truly spectacular setting, perfect for this fun-filled winter holiday.

Itinerary

2Day 2Dogsledding instruction and tour of 10km (approx.). Adults drive with children sitting in sleds.

Half-day husky safari. After sorting out all of your equipment needed for a week in arctic conditions there is then a free morning to try sledging around the areas of Basecamp, or enjoy a game of football or hockey in the deep snow. All games equipment are available free of charge from the front desk. After lunch, we head off for the husky safari in the neighbouring Riisitunturi National Park. We start with a tuition on how to ride on the sled and the importance of caring for the huskies correctly. We then head off into the woods where our teams of dogs eagerly await our arrival, ready to take us on our 10km mushing adventure. Our route takes us deep into the National Park and up onto the surrounding fjell where we are rewarded with a fantastic view. With the adults driving and the children sitting in the sled, you are able to really appreciate the serenity of this beautiful snow-laden landscape.See more images and videos

3Day 3Gentle half day snowshoe walk, exploring the park; free use of snowshoes in the afternoon.

Snowshoeing. Gentle half-day snowshoe walk in the Oulanka National Park past frozen waterfalls and following the Kitkajoki River.There is a free afternoon for further snowshoeing, sauna or hot-tub.See more images and videos

Experience the Scandinavian-born sport of cross-country skiing. Heading down to the nearby Juuma lake, our instructor will literally walk us through the basics of how to cross-country ski. There may be a few tumbles to start with, but in the soft snow this is half the fun. After becoming more confident on the skis we then head out onto the lake, gliding through the virgin powder. In the afternoon, keep hold of your skis as there is the option of further unguided skiing in the area.See more images and videos

5Day 5Morning free in Ruka for optional snowmobile safari or downhill skiing; Afternoon visit reindeer farm and museum with a ride on a reindeer sleigh. Enjoy hot drinks around open fire and eat reindeer sausages.

Explore Ruka and optional activities. Spend the day at the popular ski resort of Ruka. Your guide will organise transfers (included) and book activities for you. Downhill skiing and snowmobile safaris are available. See 'Extra Expenses' section below. In the late afternoon we visit the reindeer farm and museum where everyone will have the chance to ride on a reindeer sleigh, and try lasso throwing. The evening then draws to a close with some hot drinks and some reindeer sausages round an open fire.See more images and videos

Leisurely morning free to relax with afternoon children's snow games. After lunch the afternoon is spent in the children's snow park, which is supervised by the Basecamp guides. Amongst other activities, here children have the opportunity to learn how to build an igloo. Follow the 'snow trail', which leads to a teepee where hot drinks and pancakes are served. Families can also have a go at making a snow sculpture.

Free day. Options include unguided cross-country skiing and snowshoeing; downhill skiing at nearby Ruka (transport and skiing not included); or further dogsledding and snowmobile safaris. There is also a possibility for ice climbing for all ages. As a farewell celebration, we have the option of eating dinner around a campfire, or in a tepee (Kota) on the edge of the National Park.

Your images

Family group

Family group holidays that you and your family can enjoy together. These trips are active, adventurous and provide the perfect blend of exploration and sociability.

Activity level

You are reasonably fit, enjoy the outdoors and are looking for some exercise. Some previous experience is preferable for activity based trips.

What's included

What's included

All breakfasts, all dinners

All accommodation (see below)

All transport and listed activities

Tour leader throughout

Flights from London (if booking incl. flights)

Arrival & departure transfers

What's not included

Travel insurance

Single accommodation (available on request) GBP110 for single or twin occupancy

Visas or vaccinations

Accommodation details

Basecamp

You will spend 7 nights at Basecamp Oulanka, this wilderness camp is a lovey complex of wooden buildings offering cosy accommodation overlooking a pristine lake and bordered by the Oulanka National Park. All rooms are moderately sized family rooms with a bathroom, twin beds for adults and a mezzanine floor for 2 children.

Family of two - All family groupings of two will be put into either one or twin room. You will have to pay a supplement for twin occupancy of £110 per room.
Family of three or four - Unless you request otherwise we will reserve a twin room (with a mezzanine - 4 beds in total).
Family of five or more - For larger families, we will provide 2 twin rooms (supplement of £110 applies for less than 3 people in a room) as standard.
Whilst we will do our very best to ensure that families are roomed close together (in some cases, we can arrange adjoining rooms), we can't guarantee this. Most family holidays occur during peak season and we sometimes have little to no control over where you will be put. You need to come prepared for this. Please note all prices are based on a family of 3 or 4 (adults or children) sharing a room. The supplement for single or twin occupancy is £110 per room.

Essential info

Vaccinations and Visa
No visa required for UK passport holders visiting Finland.
There are no specific health risks. Holiday style

A mixed activity week for families, with a good selection of guided activities and free time for independent activities or relaxation. None of the activities require previous experience.
Grade 3 (see our website for further information on our grades).

Activity Details
All active winter holidays involve some element of risk; from something as normal as slipping on icy pavements, to the possibility of injuries sustained as a result of the activities themselves. While we do all we can to minimize any dangers, participants must be prepared to accept some risk as part of the holiday. Please see activity details below, and 'risk of injury' note on page 64 of the brochure.

Cross-country skiing
On a beginner's cross-country skiing course your instructor will choose the trails and terrain carefully, and will avoid steep slopes, however, even on the flat you should expect to fall over. Unlike downhill skiing, where falls can happen at speed, most cross-country falls happen at slow speeds or from an almost static position, and cause no injury. Although it is very rare, some falls do lead to injury, in the worst cases this may include broken bones. Overall cross-country skiing is a safe sport to take part in, if properly instructed.

Dogsledding
While speeds rarely exceed 20 km per hour, injuries can occur if a sled tips over or leaves the trail, and participants should be prepared for this risk.
Low level snowshoeing: we have chosen to categorize this holiday as 'Low Level Snowshoeing', which is described as snowshoeing over flat or undulating terrain, where avalanche risk is non-existent, and there are no big-drops and very steep terrain is rare. There is minimal risk of injury from falls or slides on icy terrain.

Snowmobiling (optional activity)
On flat or rolling terrain snowmobile accidents are rare, and the guides will follow prepared and signed trails for most of the time. As snowmobiles can reach high speeds, drivers must be responsible for safe driving, and must follow the instructions given by the guide to avoid injury and snowmobile damage.
Important note on snowmobiling: all drivers must be over 17 and have a valid (car) driving licence and carry this with you whilst driving. You will be liable to pay for any damage to snowmobiles up to the excess on the insurance policy, which is approx. EUR550 (currently equivalent to GBP499) per machine. You will be asked to sign a form agreeing to the above. This means, that in the unlikely event that you damage a snowmobile in a major way, you will only be charged the excess and not the full cost of repair. Snowmobiles are not for everyone and can be difficult to master, however damage is very rare if the drivers are alert and considerate.

Eating & drinking

All breakfasts and 7 evening meals are included. Packed lunches are readily available at Basecamp and cost approx. 10EUR. The food at Basecamp is a delicious range of local produce that is all prepared on site by the in house chef.
Starters consist of a salad buffet with 4-6 different choices. The main courses consist of wild game such as elk, chicken, salmon and vendace. There is also the option of vegetarian food if you so choose. Dessert consists of lingon berries, blue berries and cloud berries that have often been picked by the chef herself. It is refreshing to know that what is viewed as superfoods in our supermarkets, grows locally to Basecamp. These berries are served with a selection of quark kurd, cream, ice cream, cakes and pan cakes. Lunch normally consists of a hot soup with elk, salmon or vegetarian.

Trip notes

Download the detailed trip notes for everything you could possibly want to know about this trip, including
detailed itinerary and full kit list

Weather & seasonality

In the regions close to the Arctic Circle temperatures during the season range from -30 to +5degC. Christmas will normally be the coldest (usually below -20degC), but the temperatures rise as the days lengthen, and early April can see temperatures around -10 to +5degC. Recent years have seen massive fluctuations in the space of a few weeks with lows of -40 and highs of +7degC just a few days apart. If the thought of such temperatures scares you, then think again. When dressed in the Arctic clothing provided, with insulated boots, woolly hat and large mittens, -20degC can actually f eel very pleasant. The Arctic cold is a dry cold, there is usually no wind, and remember we will keep you active.

Daylight hours

Remember that at extreme latitudes the days shorten and lengthen much faster. So while in mid-winter (December/January) the sun remains just below the horizon, by April there are more daylight hours than in the UK, and the midnight sun is only a matter of weeks away. Even in midwinter it is not dark, as the sun is just above the horizon

and there is plenty of light reflected off the snow.

Northern Lights

The breathtaking Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) are visible from September to late April on most clear nights at latitudes close to, and above the Arctic Circle. They can be seen further south, but will be less spectacular and less frequent. Solar activity is greater around the equinoxes (September and April), and at lower latitudes this can be the best time to see them. Inside the Arctic Circle, they tend to be just as good in any winter month, and on a seven-night trip you would be unlucky not to see the Northern Lights at all.

Gallery

Reviews & community

An action packed snowy adventure enjoyed by mum, dad and 2 boys (11 and 8) in the stunning Finish countryside. This holiday gave us the opportunity to try shoe shoeing, cross country skiing, ice climbing, sledging, building snow homes, downhill skiing, exploring the countryside with huskies, learning about reindeer farming and sledging, in a wonderful environment with home cooked tasty food, new friends and a sauna and hot tub to relax in. Seeing the Northern Lights twice was a real bonus too.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Driving the husky sleigh into the magical national park. We felt like we were in Narnia

What did you think of your group leader?

Tessa and the whole team at Basecamp were inspirational. Tessa was an excellent leader, passionate about conserving the environment she lives and works in and her enthusiasm, experience, clarity and humour helped create a really positive experience for the group.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Take snacks or food if you don't want to have lunch or buy extra food at base camp - there isn't an easy local alternative.
also - make sure you budget for optional activities - the cost of these can add up quite quickly, but when you are there you will want to do them.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Surreal Scenery ... Snow encrusted trees, frozen waterfalls, wide vistas over lakes
Amazing Activities ... Dog sledding between frozen statues made by trees, Riding a Snow mobile cross country at speed on deep snow, Vertical ice climbing, Building a quinzee on a frozen lake, Hiking at night and being photographed with the northern lights in the background
Excellent Equipment .... Every type of kit appropriate to each activity provided, you will get used to wearing lots and lots of layers
Stimulating Staff ... Henri and his team inspire and guide you through any concerns
Fantastic Food ... Lots of soups and stews, exactly what you need, delicious!

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

The scenery brings out rare emotions ... Whilst standing alone in a clearing in the pine and birch forest on a bridge over an almost completely snow covered stream watching the water flow over ice crystals, the water making the only noise audible, the mind clears and emotions flow.
By way of contrast the biggest impediment to getting up once you fell into the snow was ... uncontrollable laughter!

What did you think of your group leader?

Henri was fantastic ... nothing was too much trouble, instructions and guidance was clear, with a very wry sense of humour. All the staff were great especially the cooks who produced such tasty food.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

A buff or neck warmer will be very useful
There is no tea/coffee facility in the room so bring you own if you like a cuppa before donning several layers to start the day.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

This was action packed but relaxing too. It was a great mix of organised activities and independence. We learnt some new skills and then had time to practice and explore. Being active in the dark was a particular novelty with the help of head torches.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

The setting of Oulanka National Park is breathtaking. The landscape is monocrome - our bright coloured clothes the only colour in the black and while wilderness. The sound of the husky dogs barking - so eager to be off is unforgettable. Then whooosh we were off - very fast.

What did you think of your group leader?

The staff were relaxed and friendly. They couldn't do enough for us. We really appreciated how relaxed they were about us changing our equipment for dry or additional.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

You lucky things. Don't worry about warm clothes - just base layers for adults will be all you need as everything is provided. Although I was pleased to have brought my welly bobs for walking between our room and the dining hall. I bought the blueberry syrup from reception and it is delicous and a lovely souvenir. Don't be too disappointed if you don't see the Northern lights - we were pleased not to have such cold weather which usually comes with clear skies.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

The food is great and plenty of games provided in the dining hall although good to bring some of your own too.

Questions about your trip

Pick your question

What are facilities like at the Basecamp accommodation?

It's a superb base in a wilderness location, with excellent facilities. Twin rooms (including a mezzanine accommodate up to 4 people) with ensuite bathrooms, are in two separate buildings. Double rooms are usually available on request. The third building is a cosy restaurant and bar, with a log fire, sauna and outdoor hot-tub (available at specific times every day)!

Stefania Aniello - Finland Operations

Can I make my own way to the start point of this winter trip?

It is very difficult to make your own way and we strongly recommend that you make arrangements to meet the Exodus group transfer. If you are unsure, or would like to arrange to be added to this, please contact Exodus for more information.

Rachel George - Customer Operations

Do I need any previous experience to take part in the activities?

All of the activities arranged are designed as beginner level and full instruction will be given before you undertake any of them. Previous experience isn't essential (although it always helps!) but a reasonable level of fitness is required.

Ian Langford - Sales

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